Synopsis
The Philippines mobile market took off back in 1999/2000. In the decade or so since the number of mobile telephone subscribers has grown by almost 90 million. By mid-2011, mobile penetration was edging towards 100% in a country of 94 million people. This report looks at the market in which this growth has taken place. It also describes another related phenomenon – the surprising performance of SMS in the Philippines. Around 1.8 billion SMS messages were being sent every day in the Philippines by 2009. This was the largest SMS volume in the world, the Philippines accounting for more than 10% of global SMS at one stage and the country’s mobile operators were reported to be generating the highest proportion of non-voice revenues in the world. But as an indication of the constant change in the mobile market the SMS market had started to decline in 2010 as the impact of Internet-based social networks started to have an impact on SMS usage. This report takes a broad look at the mobile market in the Philippines and provides some pertinent statistics.
Key developments:
The Philippine mobile market passed the milestone of 90 million subscribers in 2011. Whilst the annual growth rate of the mobile market had slowed by this stage, the market continued to expand as it neared the 100% penetration mark. PLDT moved to acquire rival operator Digitel in early 2011. The deal was completed by mid-year except for the necessary approvals by the various regulatory authorities, including the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Both Smart and Globe Telecom were moving to introduce high speed mobile data services and by 2011 the two operators had launched trial 4G/LTE services.
Companies covered in this report include:
PLDT, Smart Communications, Talk ‘N Text (TNT), Red Mobile (CURE), Globe Telecom, Digitel, Extelcom, Bayantel, MultiMedia Telephony, AZ Communications Network.
